Toaster



Oct. 8 1935; J SKQVERSKL 2,016,655 TOASTER Original Filed Jan. 20, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l I l a;

i INVENTOR. -JaH/v.e.sK0l/.esz/

HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. J. SKOVERSKI TOASTER 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 20, I931 INVENTOR. JU/f/VBSAUVEQSK/ 19/6 A TTORNE Y Oct. 8, 1935. J. R. SKOVERSKI TOASTER Original Filed Jgm. 20, 1 931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 km MN INVENTOR. SKOVEESK/ ZZZZ 1M 19/5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1935 2,016,655 TOASTER John R. Skoverski, Berkeley,

mesne assignments, to Margaret Roberts,

Francisco, Calif.

CaliL, asslgnor, by San Application January 20, 1931, Serial No. 509,99 Renewed July 29, 1935 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a toaster, and particularly to a mechanism for toasting recessed objects such as hollow buns. i

' It is among the objects of my invention to provide a toaster with which a plurality of objects may be toasted at the same time, and in which the replacing of a toasted object with one to be toasted does not interfere with the remaining objects being toasted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toasting mechanism in which a toasted object is automatically removed from a heating element.

Further objects of my invention include the provision, in a toasting mechanism of the character described, of means for maintaining the heating elements at a substantially constant temperature, and of means whereby the objects to be toasted are left on the heating elements for a predetermined period of time, said means cd-operating to properly toast the objects prior to their removal from the heating elements.

The invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments, thereof within'the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the toaster embodying my invention; portions of the view being broken away to disclose the construction more clearly.

Figure 2 is a toaster, taken in horizontal sectionalview of the a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l. Portions of the turntable are broken away, and several of the heating elements are omitted to disclose the construction more clearly.

Figure 3-is a horizontal sectional view of the toaster, taken in a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figu e 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the temperature control, taken in a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is 'a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken thru the mid portions of the indicating light bracket and contactor.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical hook-up. I

In terms of broad inclusion, the toaster embodying my invention comprises a support for holding the object to be toasted, and means'for heating the object on the support. In the prehub 4; the thrust bearin ferred form of my invention the support includes an elongated heating element adapted to extend into the recess of a hollow bun or other recessed object to be toasted. Means are provided for removing the object from the support. This removing means preferably includes a stripper movable relative to the heating element for displacing the object.

Preferably, of supports are proa plurality vided for holding a group of the objects atone 10 time, and means are preferably provided for moving the supports in a predetermined path. Also, a receiver is preferably arranged adjacent the path, andmeans are provided for periodically actuating the object removing toasted objects from their supports and discharge them into the receiver as the supports move in succession past the receiver.

Means are also provided for maintaining the heating means at a substantially perature, and means are preferably provided whereby the object supports are moved in their predetermined path at a constant rate; the temperature control means and support moving means cooperating to properly toast the objects 25;

being carried about the predeterwhile they are prior to their removal from the mined path and supports.-

In greater detail, the toaster embodying my invention comprises 9. preferably circular base 2 having suitable legs 3 for'resting on a table, counter or other convenient support. A hub 4, preferably cast as an integral part of the base 2, is provided and extends upwardly from the central portions of the base. A turntable 6, also preferably circular, is positioned above and concentric with the base 2, and is provided with a recessed boss 1 extending downwardly from the The journal Means are provided for rotating the table 6 at 45 a preferably constant rate. A' spur gear Ill is secured on the shaft 8 intermediate the base hub I and table boss], and a suitable thrust bearing H is interposed between this gear and the'base roller bearing to reduce the friction of the turntable. mounting. The, turntable 6 is preferably driven by-a motor l2, mounted on the base 2, thru a. suitable reduction gearing l3 and a pinion M meshing with the gear I means to strip the 15 constant tem- 20 6 is provided by a 40 ll being preferably a 50 0 of the turntable mounting. The reduction in the surface of the drive from the motor to the turntable is designed to rotate the table at a relatively slow speed.

A plurality of supports 5 for holdingthe objects to be toasted are preferably provided, and are mounted on the turntable 6. Any number ing material, such as metal, a suitable electrical resistance unit II. It is thus seen that the bun supports are heating elements, similar in construction to the ordinary immerports or heating elements I6 are arranged in upright position and are spaced about the turntable 6 adjacent its periphery. A base flange I6 is provided on each heating element, and the screws i9 serve to screws 24.

A pair of ring-shaped bus-bars 26 are concen- I trically arranged on the plate 23, and are semounting construction it is cured by any suitable means. Also, a. series of connectors 21 are secured on the plate 23, between alternate pairs of the heating elements l6. One of the leads 28 of each heating unit is connected to an end of a connector 21. Another lead 29 of one of the units in a pair is connected to one of the bus-bars 26, while the remaining lead 3| of the other unit in a pair is connected to the other bus-bar. Suitable screws 32 bind the various leads to the connectors 21 and bus-bars 26, and these screws may conveniently also serve to secure the connectors and bus-bars to the insulating plate 23.

Means are provided for feeding current from the supply lines 22 to the bus-bars 26. For this purpose an insulating sleeve 33 is mounted on the table boss 1, and is preferably held by the set screw 9 which serves to secure the shaft 8 in the boss. This construction is best illustrated in Figure 4. A pair of collector rings 34 are suitably secured to the peripheral surface of the sleeve 33, and the leads 36 are provided connecting each ring to one of the bus-bars 26. By drilling two intersecting holes 31 thru the sleeve a passage is provided for the leads.

An insulating brush base 38 is mounted on a' support 39 projecting from the base 2, and carries a pair of brushes 4| adapted to bear against the collector rings 34. The supply lines 22 are con-' nected with the brushes 4|. From the turntable apparent that the whole table may be removed from its journal by merely lifting its shaft 3 out of the base hub .4.

' ing with this operation,

arrangement is employed to In order to prevent the brushes 4| from interferthe brush support 39 is pivotally seated in the base 2; a set screw 42 being provided to fix the support in a selected position. By this arrangement the brushes 4| be swung out of the way to clear the shaft gear l0.

Means are provided for maintaining the heating elements H5 at a substantially constant temperature. Referring particularly to Figures 4 and the core together with the coil is encased in 15 a perforated shield 46. A flange 41 formed at 41 and table 6 serves as an insulating medium; the flange 41 being secured to the table by any 20 suitable means, such as screws.

The top of the core shield 46 is formed to provide a plug 49, upon which is slidably seated a sleeve 5|. A helix 52 of suitable bi-metallic strip material is disposed about the core shield 46', 25

a ring 54 secured by a screw 56, and the ring is provided with a radially projecting arm 51. The normal position of the ring arm 51 depends upon the setting of the helix supporting sleeve 5|; a set screw 58 being provided for fixing the sleeve at a selected position.

By this arrangement it is apparent that heat radiating from the coil 44 will cause an expansion 35 of the bi-metallic strip of the helix 52 to rotate the arm 51 clockwise as viewed in Figure 2. Mounted on the table 6 in the path of movement of the arm 51 is a bracket 59 carrying a spring pressed contactor 6|). This contactor is normally 40 closed, but is arranged so that it opens when the helix arm 51 moves into registration with button 6|.

A pair of metal strips 62 insulated from the bracket 59 are positioned from the table 6 is provided.

The hookup forthe temperature control is illustrated in Figure 6, and the arrangement of The brush 13 is connected to one end of the coil 14 of a-relay 16; the other end of the relay coil 70 being connected to the supply line 22 which connects with the middle collector ring 34. The relay 16 is of conventional construction having a normally open spring pressed armature 11. This armature is interposed horizontally and in 45v ih\the supply line 22 be- 76' heater coil is such that the cam vate the platform 84 while it is aaore ess 18 is raised to strip .element I8. ;mechanism from dropping to its normal position, the following edge 91 tapere'doff to tween the collector ring and the point where the lead from the relay coil 14 connects with-the line. From this hookup it is seen that the relay coil 14, 44, lamp 83 and contactor are all connected in series across the supply lines, and that as long as current flows in this control circuit the relay armature 11 is held closed to complete the circuit to the resistance units I1 of the supports or heating elements I6.

While current is flowing thru the control circuit however the heat radiating is expanding the bi-metallic strip of the helix 52 to rotate the arm 51. The interval of time required to rotate this arm into engagement with the contactor button 8| is designed to bring the heating elements I8 up to the maximum temperature. At this time the contactor 60 is opened to stop the current flow thru the relay 16 and heater coil 44. Simultaneously the relay opens to cut off the current flow to the resistance units l1 of the heating elements.

Immediately the bi-metallic strip of the helix 52 starts to cool and rotate the arm 51 back towards its normal position. As soon as the arm 51 starts back the control circuit is closed-and the relay 16 again actuated to complete the circuit to the resistance units I1. The cycle of operation is then repeated. As a result, the heating elements I6 are maintained at a substantially constant temperature. a

Means are provided for removing the buns from the supports or heating elements I6 during a predetermined portion ofthe turntable movement. For this purpose a plurality of strippers are pref erablyprovided. Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the strippers preferably comprise an apertured stripper plate 18 normally resting on the flange I8 and adapted to slide up along the heating element I8. This relative movement between the stripper plate and heating element operates to push the element.

Means are provided for actuating the stripping means. A depending rod 19 projects from the stripper plate 18 and passes thru a suitable aperture cut in the table 6 and downwardly projecting boss 8|. Secured on the base 2 adjacent the point at which the stripper is to be actuated is an arcuate incline 82, up which the stripper rod 19 is adapted to ride as the turntable 6 rotates about its pivot. This provides a positive means for breaking the bun from its toasting position and starting it off the heating element.

In order to facilitate the rod in its climb up the incline the lower end of the rod is provided with a bevel face 83. After leaving the incline 82 the stripper rod 19 rides upon an arcuate platform 84. This platform has an arm 89 adapted to slide up and down in a vertically positioned guide 81; the guide being seated in the base 2 and held by a screw 88.

An arcuate lever 89, pivoted on a base fixed standard 9 I, projects under the platform 84 and is confined by a lip 92 formed on the platform, so that as the lever moves up and down the platform is carried with it. Movement of the lever is controlled by an arcuate cam arm 93, also pivoted on the standard 9I.. A link 94 connects one end of the cam armwiththe lever 89. The cam arm is depressed at periodic intervalsby the action of the rollers 96 mounted on the bosses 8|.

The arrangement of the actuating mechanism arm 93 is depressed to elecarrying the stripper rod 19. As a result, the stripper plate from .the coil 44 from a support bun oil over the top of the the bun from'the heating In order to prevent the stripper of the cam face is lower the mechanism without undue impact. Should the linkage become stuck while the cam is in the depressed position, a roller 96 will first strike the leading edge '98 of the cam face to lower the linkage to its normal position.

Means are pro ided for discharging the buns *into a receiver as they are stripped from the heating elements IS. The receiver comprises a hopper 99 arranged adJacent the turntable Iiv at 5 the point where the stripper plate 18 pushes a 1 bun off its support I0. A lug IN on the base 2 is adapted to engagea holder I02 on the hopper 99 to removably hold the bun receiver adjacent the toasting mechanism. A bafile plate I03 is mounted on the hopper above the path of movement of the supports to direct the buns for discharge into the hopper. The baiile plate is supported'by a rod I04 slidable in a tube I08 flxedto the rim of the hopper. A set screw I01 serves to secure the baflle plate I03 in a selected position.

By this arrangement a bun being removed I8 strikes the bailie plate. I03 and is tipped outwardlytoward-the hopper 99 as it is stripped from the support. As the supports I6 pass in succession under the baffle plate I03 the toasted buns are automatically discharged into the hopper. A trough I08 opening into the lower portions of a hopper 99 provides a convenient means for giving access to the toasted buns, and a portion I09 of the hopmr bottom slopes upwardly to direct the buns toward the trough I08. The hopper wall above the trough 99 and is positioned 20 is preferably provided with a transparent pane 40 III for viewing the interior of the hopper.

A cylindrical apron H2 is preferably secured adjacent the periphery of the turntable 6 for enclosing the mechanism. The lower edge of the apron is provided with a ring or surrounding the base 2. This construction permits the apron II2 to rotate with the turntable 6, and when the table is lifted from its mounting the apron is also removed'to expose the mechanism for adjustment housing II4 having a plurality of apertures H6 is preferably provided for incasing the exposed units of the temperature control means. This housing is secured to the table 6 by suitable means, such as the screws II1.

Operation .7

bead H3 45 or repair. A suitable 50 about its pivot 80 and the stripper plates 65 are adjusted to properly toast the buns prior to 70 their removal.

The time element is taken care of by the speed reduction from the motor I2 to the turntable 6. In connection with the drive means it might be mentioned that the motor I2 may conveniently 75 Stride over and depress the cam arm 83 to elevate the stripper plates 18; the stripper rods ll first riding up the rigid inclines 82 to break" tract the attention or prospective patrons.

I claim: 1. A toaster comprising a turntable, means for rotating the table, a plurality 01' elongated heating elements mounted mounted on the table adjacent each of said elements for riding on said cam during selected portions or the table movement, and means conected with said cam for actuating the strippers of successive elements as the while a rod is passing thereover. 1

4.'A toaster comprising a base, a turntable JOHN R. SKOVERSKL 45 

